REI Snow and Sand Tent Anchors Review

January 8, 2014

When you are anchoring a tent or hammock in the snow or sand traditional tent stakes don’t work very well. Enter the REI Snow and Sand Tent Anchor system. Essentially they are small parachutes that you attach to your guy lines and then burry in the snow/sand. By providing a ton more surface area than a tent stake and the ability to pile snow/sand/rocks/other stuff into the “chute” you can anchor something down without needing a solid surface. I used these to anchor my tent while spending the night on Ingraham Flats during a Mt. Rainier summit attempt during which we experienced a crazy wind/thunder/lightning/hail storm that blew over two other tents. Mine stayed rock solid with these anchors holding it down.

Hanging out in my securely anchored tent at Ingraham Flats on Mt. Rainier.

They are not “ultralight” since they are made from very heavy materials (thicker fabrics) but this is required since it needs to hold up to the wear and tear of being buried in the ground. Even though they are not ultralight they weigh less than a handful of ounces and come in less than a traditional tent stake system.

When using these its important to make sure you bury them deep enough. I’ve found that about a foot is the right depth.

Conclusion:

They work great! If you need to pitch a tent on sand or snow the REI Snow and Sand Tent Anchors get the job done.

Benjamin Bressler

I'm a wilderness enthusiast who likes to focus on maintaining a lightweight pack to maximize my outdoor experience. I hold to the mantra that the lighter the pack the further and faster you can travel, but, I wouldn't consider myself "ultralight". I appreciate gear that has been reduced down to its essential features to provide an elegant and comfortable solution that is simple to use and effective in achieving its purpose.